De Blasio backed the controversial idea as the Health Department released a long-awaited report on the concept — finding that the program could prevent 130 overdose deaths each year. The administration said it decided to embrace the idea despite obstacles — especially federal law, which makes it a crime to run a location that facilitates drug use.

If the plan proceeds, sites would open as a one-year pilot program in up to four locations — Gowanus in Brooklyn, Midtown West and Washington Heights in Manhattan, and Longwood in the Bronx. There are currently needle exchanges at each proposed site. The injection facilities would be run by the nonprofit Research for a Safer New York, and would not get city money.

take our poll - story continues below

Should President Trump declare a national emergency to build the wall?

Should President Trump declare a national emergency to build the wall?

Should President Trump declare a national emergency to build the wall?*

Yes, the democrats have left President Trump with no choice.

No, regardless of who's in power, congress should have to approve it.

Email*

Email

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Completing this poll grants you access to 100PercentFedUp.com updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to this site's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

De Blasio, who has long opposed making recreational pot legal, now says he thinks legalization is inevitable and is creating an official task force to get ready for the day when that happens and implement the new law.

While pot remains illegal, Hizzoner will direct the NYPD to give summonses to people they catch smoking in public instead of arresting them, his aides said Sunday.

“MASSIVE RACIAL DISPARITY”???

That policy change will be part of a 30-day review the mayor announced last week to address the massive racial disparity in marijuana arrests.

And de Blasio isn’t stopping there — he’ll put together a task force of city officials to lay the groundwork for full legalization, figuring out issues like how cops will deal with public smokers, what kind of zoning will be needed for pot dispensaries, and what types of public health campaigns the city should run about marijuana.

De Blasio isn’t quite throwing his support behind legalizing pot, but says the day is coming — whether he likes it or not — and the city should be ready

“With marijuana legalization likely to occur in our state in the near future, it is critical our city plans for the public safety, health, and financial consequences involved,” he said.

“While I still have real concerns we must work through, it isn’t difficult to see where this is headed, and any responsible policymaker must prepare for that eventuality. My focus now will be helping to craft the critical regulatory framework that must come before legalization is realized.”

City Hall is acting because they believe Gov. Cuomo is likely to act soon to make the drug legal in New York state.

Cuomo, like de Blasio, has opposed legalization. But he has shifted his position, appointing a commission to study the issue and saying the availability of legal pot in surrounding states has changed the equation for New York.

More and more New York pols have gotten on board with legalizing weed in recent weeks, and the city has faced a torrent of criticism over the racial disparity in NYPD arrests. Research shows white and black people smoke pot at about the same rate, but 86% of those arrested in the city are black and Latino.